FALMOUTH—After giving longtime tormentor York a scare in the teams’ first meeting this season, the Falmouth field hockey team was optimistic about its chances in the rematch Saturday afternoon on its home turf.
Instead, the Yachtsmen had no answers for the Wildcats.
York controlled play almost from start to finish, had huge edges in shots and penalty corners and ultimately, enjoyed an advantage in the only numbers that mattered, the ones on the scoreboard.
It took almost 28 minutes, but the Wildcats finally rattled the cage on a corner to take a 1-0 lead to halftime. Then, in the second half, York struck three times in just over eight minutes to put it away and went on to a 4-0 victory, improving to 9-0, while dropping Falmouth to 7-2.
“We didn’t play well,” said Yachtsmen coach Robin Haley. “York was on on every pass and we weren’t. That was basically it.”
Good riddance
Since the teams started playing regularly in 2003, Falmouth has more often than not been left heartbroken by York (please see sidebar, below).
In 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Yachstmen’s title hopes were dashed by the Wildcats, with two of those losses coming in overtime and a third on penalty corners.
York has won 19 of 24 meetings since the start of the 2003 season, with Falmouth prevailing just three times (two other games ended in ties). That includes a 1-0 York win at a 2-2 tie a year ago and a 2-1 Wildcats’ home victory on Sept. 17.
That proved to be the Yachtsmen lone blemish entering Saturday’s game.
Falmouth opened with a 5-0 home win over Fryeburg, then enjoyed a dramatic 1-0, double overtime triumph at Cape Elizabeth and a 1-0 home victory over Greely. After falling at York, the Yachtsmen bounced back to blank Lake Region (2-0), Kennebunk (1-0), Freeport (4-0) and Wednesday, North Yarmouth Academy (1-0, on senior Jillian Rothweiler’s overtime goal).
York, which has appeared in the Class B state final seven times in the past nine seasons (winning it in 2008), is up to its usual dominance this fall. The Wildcats handled their first eight foes by a composite 36-1 margin, with only Falmouth managing to score. York was also tested by Lake Region, but prevailed, 1-0.
Saturday, Falmouth sought its first win over its nemesis since Sept. 11, 2008 (3-0 at home), but in the absolute last meeting this fall (the Yachtsmen will be in Class A for the postseason), York left Falmouth wanting again.
The Wildcats set up shop in the Yachtsmen’s zone early and for awhile, Falmouth held them off.
Yachtsmen senior Hillary Nash made a save on promising York freshman Lily Posternak and robbed senior captain Taylor Simpson to keep it scoreless, but with 2:06 to play before halftime, on the Wildcats’ seventh corner, Posternak set up Simpson for a shot which Nash couldn’t stop and York had a 1-0 lead.
In the first half, the Wildcats had a 6-0 shots advantage and attempted seven corners.
While Falmouth managed to keep York at bay in the first half, the Wildcats broke through in the final 30 minutes.
First, with 25:36 to play in regulation, the hosts managed their first shot as senior Leika Scott sent a bid from the side just wide into the side of the cage.
With 15:56 to go, York doubled its lead, as Posternak fired a blast on a corner and senior captain Kathleen Cronin tipped it home to make it 2-0.
Just 86 seconds later, Posternak back-handed a shot which Nash slowed but couldn’t stop and the lead was up to 3-0.
With 7:06 remaining, Cronin banged home a rebound and the accounted for the 4-0 final score.
“I saw some good things from a few of my players,” said Haley. “They had an opportunity to show their maturity. We can work with that.”
York finished with a 19-2 shots advantage and had 13 corners to Falmouth’s one. Nash made eight saves.
Top spot up for grabs
York has the inside track on the top seed in Western B. The Wildcats have home games remaining versus Greely, Poland and Lake Region, then close at Cape Elizabeth and NYA.
The Yachtsmen (battling Massabesic, Cheverus, Marshwood and defending regional champion Scarborough for the top spot in the Western A Heal Points standings) go to Fryeburg Tuesday, host Cape Elizabeth Thursday, visit Greely and Poland and close at home against Gray-New Gloucester.
Falmouth hopes to quickly return to form.
“If we’re going to have a game like this, I’d rather have it now,” Haley said. “We hope to finish strong.”
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
Falmouth senior Jillian Rothweiler sends the ball upfield.
Falmouth junior Dayna Vasconcelos tries to keep the ball away from York junior Kayla Kelly.
Falmouth junior Elle Fitzgerald eludes a York defender.
Falmouth senior Hayley Winslow tries to get around a York defender.
Falmouth freshman Sydney Bell holds York senior Taylor Simpson in check.
Recent Falmouth-York results
2013
@ York 2 Falmouth 1
2012
@ York 1 Falmouth 0
@ Falmouth 2 York 2 (tie)
2011
York 2 @ Falmouth 1 (OT)
@ York 1 Falmouth 0 (OT)
2010
@ York 2 Falmouth 0
York 3 @ Falmouth 0
Western B quarterfinals
@ York 2 Falmouth 1
2009
York 2 @ Falmouth 0
@ York 1 Falmouth 0
Western B semifinals
@ York 2 Falmouth 1
2008
@ Falmouth 3 York 0
@ York 2 Falmouth 1
Western B Final
@ York 2 Falmouth 1 (3rd round of penalty corners)
2007
Falmouth 2 @ York 1
@ Falmouth 1 York 1 (tie)
2006
@ York 5 Falmouth 1
York 3 @ Falmouth 0
2005
@ Falmouth 2 York 1
@ York 3 Falmouth 2
Western B semifinals
@ York 2 Falmouth 1 (2 OT)
2004
York 1 @ Falmouth 0 (OT)
Western B semifinals
@ York 2 Falmouth 0
2003
@ York 1 Falmouth 0
Sidebar Elements
Falmouth senior Leika Scott fires a shot during the Yachtsmen’s 4-0 home loss to York Saturday.
Mike Strout photos.
More photos below.
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